If you want to get data from an external source then I would suggest using the classic approach and creating a connection string and then access the DB with dotnet core capabilities .

OR

If you want to extend the current DB and have a better performance and managability then I would suggest this:

https://docs.umbraco.com/v/10.x-lts/umbraco-cms/extending/database#data-stored-in-custom-database-tables

Hi,

I did trying using EntityFramework

This is what I have.

Models/DepartmentModel.cs

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations.Schema;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;

namespace Intranet.Models
{
    [Table("Department")]
    public class Department
    {
        [Key]
        public int DeptID { get; set; }

        [DisplayName("Department Name")]
        public string DeptName { get; set; }

        public bool DeptActive { get; set; }
    }
}

Models/IdentityModels.cs

using System.Data.Entity;
using System.Security.Claims;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Microsoft.AspNet.Identity;
using Microsoft.AspNet.Identity.EntityFramework;

namespace Intranet.Models
{
    // You can add profile data for the user by adding more properties to your ApplicationUser class, please visit https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=317594 to learn more.
    public class ApplicationUser : IdentityUser
    {
        public async Task<ClaimsIdentity> GenerateUserIdentityAsync(UserManager<ApplicationUser> manager)
        {
            // Note the authenticationType must match the one defined in CookieAuthenticationOptions.AuthenticationType
            var userIdentity = await manager.CreateIdentityAsync(this, DefaultAuthenticationTypes.ApplicationCookie);
            // Add custom user claims here
            return userIdentity;
        }
    }

    public class ApplicationDbContext : IdentityDbContext<ApplicationUser>
    {
        public DbSet<Department> Department { get; set; }



        public ApplicationDbContext()
            : base("serviceDirectory", throwIfV1Schema: false)
        {
        }

        public static ApplicationDbContext Create()
        {
            return new ApplicationDbContext();
        }
    }
}

Controllers/DepartmentController.cs

using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Mvc;
using Intranet.Models;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Data.Entity;


namespace Intranet.Controllers
{
    public class DepartmentController : Controller
    {
        private ApplicationDbContext db;

        public DepartmentController()
        {
            db = new ApplicationDbContext();
        }

        // GET: Departments
        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            return View(db.Department.Where(d => d.DeptActive).ToList());
        }

        protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
        {
            db.Dispose();
        }
    }
}

Then on my template page on Umbraco I have

@using Umbraco.Cms.Web.Common.PublishedModels;
@inherits Umbraco.Cms.Web.Common.Views.UmbracoViewPage<ContentModels.TelephoneDirectory>
@using ContentModels = Umbraco.Cms.Web.Common.PublishedModels;
@model IEnumerable<Intranet.Models.Department>



@{
    Layout = "Master.cshtml";
}





<form>
    <div class="form-group">
        <label for="sel1">Select Department (select one):</label>
        <select class="form-control" id="sel1">
            @foreach (var item in Model)
            {
                <option>@Html.DisplayFor(m => item.DeptName)</option>
            }
        </select>
    </div>
</form>

But I'm getting the following error;

foreach statement cannot operate on variables of type 'TelephoneDirectory' because 'TelephoneDirectory' does not contain a public instance or extension definition for 'GetEnumerator'

is working on a reply...